Australian Tap Dance Festival

Australia's Premiere Celebration of Tap Takes the Spotlight This Spring

The 7th annual Australian Tap Dance Festival takes centre stage in Melbourne this spring, 29 September – 6 October, with a world class line-up of talented Tappers arriving for Australia's premiere celebration of Tap.

The Australian Tap Dance Festival is the only festival of its kind in Australasia and offers an action-packed week of Tap and choreography, lessons and master classes, dance battles, seminars, a Gala show and special events for all ages and levels. The festival will run at Melbourne's Ministry of Dance, a full accredited dance and training studio founded by renowned Australian dancer, choreographer, performer and presenter Jason Coleman. theministryofdance.com.au/.

This year's Festival faculty features an exceptional line up of accomplished Tap artists including American headliner Melinda Sullivan – one of the most sought after Tap soloists and choreographers in the world (The Late Late Show with James Corden, La La Land, SYTYCD USA). Other esteemed faculty include Winston Morrison (founder of Melbourne Tap Dance and Australian Tap Dance Festival Director), Tyler Knowlin (currently touring with Riverdance), Peta Anderson (currently touring with Eireborne), Bill Simpson (founder of Red Hot Rhythm and choreographer Strictly Gershwin), Brianna Taylor (one of the first female Australian Tap dancers to perform on Broadway in Untapped USA and currently touring with Nick Young's Tap company in LA), Shane Preston (Tap Dogs), Luke Alleva (London West End performances, The Dancin' Man), Jack Egan (The Forge Tap Project), Eden Read (Opera Australia, The Space Dance & Arts Centre), Leanne Driel (WA Tap Orchestra), Jessie Cram (Rhythm Tap Melbourne) and Emma Wickham (creator of Footnotes Tap troupe). Each carefully selected faculty member will also be offering special 5-day residencies teaching full performance routines from 2- 6 October. australiantapdancefestival.com.au/faculty/.

This year's line of up exciting events includes Never Tapped Before, a free beginners class open to the public, History of Tap Lecture, Talking Tap Faculty Q&A, Cutting Competition Dance Battle, the inaugural Tap Trivia Night and the penultimate event, "Play The Floor"; the Australian Tap Dance Festival Gala, showcasing the superb skills of the highest caliber Australian and international Tap dancers. For more information visit australiantapdancefestival.com.au/.

29 September – 6 October 2018
Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance, 64 Sutton St, North Melbourne VIC
australiantapdancefestival.com.au/book-now/